taxi
gb/tˈæksi/ us/tˈæksi/
A1
English
~ 7800
taxi, gurul
NOUN
A1
1
taxi
A1
Usage pattern:
to take a taxi (to [a place])
We took a taxi to the airport because it was raining.
Taxival mentünk a repülőtérre, mert esett az eső.
It’s hard to find a taxi here late at night.
Késő este nehéz errefelé taxit találni.
The taxi driver helped me with my bags.
She spent a lot of money on taxi rides last month.
Let’s share a taxi home to save money.
Learner examples
I took a taxi to the hotel.
Taxival mentem a szállodába.
We cannot walk, so we will go by taxi.
Nem tudunk gyalog menni, ezért taxival megyünk.
There are many taxis in front of the station.
He called a taxi on his phone.
The taxi was fast and clean.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I took taxi"* without an article; in most cases in English, you should say *"a taxi"* or *"the taxi"*. Another common mistake is using the verb *"I taxi to work"*; more natural is *"I take a taxi to work"* or *"I go to work by taxi"*.
Meaning
Car with driver for hire
Collocations
take a taxi
|call a taxi
|hail a taxi
|share a taxi
|taxi ride
|taxi driver
Synonyms
cab (The most common informal synonym; used especially in American English and in phrases like "cab driver.")
|
taxicab (A slightly more formal or technical full form; less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
public transport (Refers to buses, trains, and similar services that many people share on fixed routes instead of a private point‑to‑point car for hire.)
Themes
travel
|transport
|daily life
|transportation
|daily_life
Definition
A car and driver that you pay to take you where you want to go, usually in a city; also, a trip in this kind of car.
A car with a driver that people pay to take them directly to a chosen place, especially within a town or city; also, a ride in such a car.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
2
gurul
B1
Usage pattern:
[an aircraft] taxis (to [a place])
The plane taxied to the runway and waited for clearance.
A repülőgép a kifutópályához gurult, és várt az engedélyre.
We watched the jets taxi slowly past the terminal windows.
Néztük, ahogy a sugárhajtású gépek lassan elgurulnak a terminál ablakai előtt.
After landing, the aircraft taxied back to the gate in heavy rain.
Several planes were taxiing in line, waiting to depart.
The pilot announced that we would taxi for about ten minutes before takeoff.
Learner examples
The plane is taxiing to the runway.
A repülőgép a kifutópályához gurul.
After it lands, the plane taxis to the gate.
Leszállás után a repülőgép a kapuhoz gurul.
We sat in our seats while the aircraft taxied slowly.
Many planes are taxiing on the ground before they fly.
The pilot said we will taxi for a few minutes.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the noun *taxi* and think it always means a car for hire. As a verb about planes, *taxi* is only used for aircraft moving on the ground, not for cars or people.
Meaning
Of aircraft, move on ground
Collocations
taxi to the runway
|taxi along the runway
|taxi back to the gate
|aircraft taxiing
|taxi to the terminal
|taxi into position
Synonyms
roll (Technical aviation term for similar ground movement; slightly broader, as it can also refer to parts moving on wheels.)
Antonyms
take off (Opposite in the flight sequence: leaving the ground and beginning to fly instead of moving slowly on the ground.)
Themes
transport
|aviation
|science
|travel
|transportation
Definition
When a plane moves slowly on the ground by itself, usually going to or from the runway.
For an aircraft to move slowly on the ground under its own power, especially while going to or from a runway or gate.
Grammar
Dictionary form
taxi
IPA
GB/tˈæksi/
US/tˈæksi/
Syllables & stress
taxi (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (taxi)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: taxi
- Plural: taxi, taxies, taxis
Verb
- Base: taxi
- 3rd Person Singular: taxies, taxis
- Present Participle: taxiing, taxying
- Past: taxied
- Past Participle: taxied
Word family
Forms
taxies
noun
taxis
noun
taxiing
verb
taxying
verb
taxied
verb
Related words
cab
noun A2
taxicab
noun
Expressions
by taxi
1/bˈaɪ tˈæksi/
fixed phrase
Using a taxi as transport
Using a taxi to go from one place to another.
Examples
- It takes about twenty minutes to get there by taxi.
- She goes to work by taxi when it rains.
- We arrived by taxi just before the meeting started.
call a taxi
1/kˈɔl ə tˈæksi/
fixed phrase
Phone or request a taxi
To phone or use an app to ask a taxi to come.
Examples
- I’ll call a taxi so we don’t miss the train.
- Could you call a taxi for me, please?
- She called a taxi from her phone outside the restaurant.
get a taxi
1/ɡˈɛt ə tˈæksi/
fixed phrase
Arrange or manage to use a taxi
To find or arrange a taxi, for example by calling, using an app, or stopping one in the street.
Examples
- It’s hard to get a taxi in this area at night.
- We can get a taxi outside the hotel.
- Use this app to get a taxi quickly.
hail a taxi
1/hˈeɪl ə tˈæksi/
fixed phrase
Signal a street taxi to stop
To wave your hand or signal in the street so that a taxi stops for you.
Examples
- It took her ten minutes to hail a taxi in the rain.
- You can’t hail a taxi here; you have to use an app.
- He stepped out to the main road to hail a taxi.
share a taxi
1/ʃˈɛɹ ə tˈæksi/
fixed phrase
Use one taxi together with others
To go in the same taxi with other people and usually split the price.
Examples
- Let’s share a taxi to the airport to save money.
- They decided to share a taxi back to the hotel.
- We shared a taxi with another couple from the conference.
take a taxi
1/tˈeɪk ə tˈæksi/
fixed phrase
Travel somewhere using a taxi
To go to a place in a taxi.
Examples
- If it rains, we can take a taxi to the station.
- It’s too far to walk, so let’s take a taxi.
- She usually takes a taxi home when she works late.
taxi driver
1/tˈæksi dɹˈaɪvɚ/
fixed phrase
Person whose job is driving a taxi
A person who drives a taxi for work.
Examples
- The taxi driver told us about the city’s history.
- Her uncle works as a taxi driver in London.
- The taxi driver helped the tourist find his hotel.
taxi rank
1/tˈæksi ɹˈæŋk/
fixed phrase
Place where taxis line up
A place, usually by the road, where taxis wait in a line for people to get in. (Mainly British English.)
Examples
- There’s a taxi rank outside the main entrance of the station.
- We joined the queue at the taxi rank.
- You can usually find a taxi rank near big hotels.
taxi stand
1/tˈæksi stˈænd/
fixed phrase
Marked place where taxis wait
A marked area where taxis wait for passengers. (Common in North American English.)
Examples
- You’ll find a taxi stand just outside the airport terminal.
- Let’s meet at the taxi stand after the concert.
- There was a long line at the taxi stand.